7.4.1. The Infinitive

Ex. 277. Translate into your native language. Explain the use of the infinitives.

1. Lady Franklin was horrified at herself. To have asked his name, to have been told his name, and to have forgotten it! 2. She seemed to be paying no attention to what was going on around her. 3. He suddenly awoke from his queer trance; there was a decision to be made. 4. Good-bye, Mr. Jackson. Glad to have been of service to you. 5. I say, don’t you think you ought to be going? 6. He was very tired, and to have been caught napping had irritated him and hurt his pride.7. There are a great many things to be taken into consideration. 8. She told them to take off their shoes so that their footsteps could not be heard in the flat below. 9. “We are very sorry to have disturbed you”, began Peter. 10. There was nothing to be done, but to wait for the next express, which was due at four.

Ex. 278. Supply the forms of the infinitive according to the following models.

Model A: The Active Perfect form: to write – to have written.

To sing, to sleep, to stop, to get, to stay, to have, to prefer, to be, to continue, to grow, to find.

Model B: The Active Perfect Continuous and the Active non-Perfect Continuous forms: to stay – to be staying – to have been staying.

To go, to run, to arrive, to study, to cut, to live, to come, to copy, to dye, to tie, to swim, to listen, to lie.

Model C: The Passive Perfect and the Passive non-Perfect forms: to translate – to be translated – to have been translated.

To write, to give, to prove, to buy, to look for, to bring, to attack, to take care of, to burn, to forget.

Model D: Give all the possible forms of the given infinitives.

To work, to lay, to carry, to choose, to stand, to show, to laugh, to smoke, to like, to break, to strike.

Model E: Supply all the missing forms of the given infinitives.

To be done, to have been talking, to have made, to have been tried, to be leaving, to be spoken of.

Ex. 279. Build the form of the infinitive according to the description; take any verb that can have the form.

1. The Passive non-Perfect form. 2. The Active Perfect Continuous form. 3. The Active non-Perfect non-Continuous form. 4. The Passive Perfect form. 5. The Active non-Perfect Continuous form. 6. The Active Perfect non-Continuous form.

Ex. 280. State the form of the given infinitives.

To be doing, to have been done, to be done, to do, to have written, to have been written, to have been writing, to be writing, to be written, to be mentioned, to have known, to have been dealt, to be shouting, to smile, to be dancing, to have been told, to have been travelling, to be asked, to shut, to have said.

Ex. 281. Use the Active or Passive non-Perfect infinitives.

1. I hate (to bother) you, but the man is still waiting (to give) a definite answer. 2. He hated (to bother) with trifling matters when he had more important questions (to decide). 3. She would never miss a chance (to show) her efficiency, she was so anxious (to like) and (to praise). 4. The idea was too complicated (to express) in just one paragraph. It seemed it would take not less than a page (to put) it into words. 5. Is there anything else (to tell) him? I believe he deserves (to know) how the matter stands and (to tell) all about it. 6. The book is likely (to publish) and (to appear) on sale pretty soon. It is sure (to sell) well and (to sell) out in no time. 7. What he took to writing for was not (to earn) a living but a name. All he wanted was (to read) and not (to forget).

Ex. 282. Use the infinitive in the required form in the Active Voice.

1. How fortunate he is (to travel) all over the world and (to see) so much of it. 2. The man appears (to know) practically all European languages; he is said (to learn) them while travelling. 3. The river was reported (to overflow) the banks and (to advance) towards the suburbs of the city. 4. The girl pretended (to read) a book and not (to notice) me. 5. You seem (to look) for trouble. 6. It seems (to rain) ever since we came here. 7. It is so thoughtful of you (to book) the tickets well in advance. 8. That woman is still sitting. She seems (to wait) for over an hour. 9. They happened, at the moment, (to stand) near a small conservatory at the end of the garden. 10. An intimate friend is said (to dine) with them that day. 11. For about ten days we seemed (to live) on nothing but cold meat, cake, and bread, and jam. 12. Well, funny things seem (to happen) now.

Ex. 283. Use the appropriate form of the infinitives in brackets.

1. The man seemed (to study) me, and I felt uneasy in his presence. 2. Perhaps it would bother him (to speak) about the quarrel. 3. He is supposed (to work) at the translation of the book for two years. 4. The only sound (to hear) was the ticking of the grandfather’s clock downstairs. 5. The book was believed (to lose) until the librarian happened (to find) it during the inventory. It turned out (to misplace). 6. The strength of the metal proved (to overestimate) by the designer. The engineer claimed (to warn) against its use for the purpose all along as he had been always sure it was likely (to deform) under great load. 7. We seem (to fly) over the sea for quite a time and there is yet no land (to see). 8. Not (to answer) would have been a wrong step. 9. We don’t seem (to acquaint), at least I can’t remember ever (to meet) him. 10. The third key remained (to test).

Ex. 284. Use the correct form of the infinitive as a part of a compound verbal predicate.

A. 1. He seemed (to lose) all the friendliness he had shown at our previous meeting. 2. “I happen (to be) her lawyer and she telephoned to me”, I said to the man. 3. It became clear that Charles was still idle. He seemed (to read) scarcely any law. 4. The cat seems (to miss) for about three weeks. 5. He appeared (to forget) that they had had the first serious difference of opinion in the whole of their married life. 6. “Dr. Salt, what do you think you’re doing?” “People seem (to ask) me that for days”, said Dr. Salt mildly. 7. Not going home, in fact, seemed lately (to become) the pattern of his life. 8. My mother thought that his hobbies would get him nowhere. In this she turned out (to be) wrong. 9. It seemed (to snow) in the room. The floor, the chairs, the desk were covered in drifts of white. It was torn paper. 10. She leant far over the banister and strained her ears. All the family seemed (to talk) at once. 11. The general seemed (to age) a great deal. 12. Charles met me the first day I came to London, and our friendship seemed (to establish) for a long time. 13. He did not even seem (to understand) what the fuss was about. 14. In front of one window there was a small table and Harry was sitting at it peering at a pile of papers which he seemed (to copy) or (to translate). 15. When I arrived there, I didn’t see the dog. Not much else seemed (to change). 16. Then I caught sight of her on the far side of the square. She seemed (to say) good-bye to someone.

B. 1. George must (to be) pleased that he has passed his examination. 2. I found this baby bird at the foot of a tree. It must (to fall) from a nest. 3. You needn’t (to send) a telegram; a letter would have done. 4. I should (to send) him a birthday card but I forgot to. 5. He didn’t mean to be rude; you shouldn’t (to be) so angry with him yesterday. 6. It’s three o’clock and I’m feeling very hungry; I should (to eat) more for lunch. 7. It may (to rain), take a coat. 8. If you are in love, it ought (to make) you happy. 9. The doctor said it was appendicitis and she ought (to operate) on. 10. I can’t think why they didn’t try to help him. They may not (to realize) that he was drowning. 11. He might (to thank) us. (We are offended that he didn’t). 12. He may (to be) on the next train. Let’s wait. 13. I wonder how the fire started. – Oh, someone might (to drop) a lighted cigarette or it might (to be) an electrical fault. 14. I wonder why they didn’t go. The weather may (to be) too bad.

Ex. 285. Combine each of the following pairs of sentences into one sentence using the infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose; look at the model.

Model: They sent me to Spain. They wanted me to learn Spanish.

They sent me to Spain to learn Spanish.

1. I am buying paint. I want to paint my hall door. 2. He opened the lion’s cage. He intended to feed the lion. 3. He rushed into the burning house. He wanted to save the child. 4. He rang the bell. He wanted to tell us that the dinner was ready. 5. The farmer put a scarecrow up in the field. He wanted to frighten the birds. 6. He sent his children to his sister’s house. He wanted them to watch the television programme. 7. I am saving up. I want to buy a car. 8. I keep my hens in a field surrounded by wire netting. I want to protect them against the foxes. 9. You should take your holidays in June. In this way you would avoid the rush. 10. They evacuated everybody from the danger zone. They wanted to reduce the risk.

Ex. 286. Replace the subordinate clauses by attributive infinitives.

1. There weren’t many children in the neighbourhood who we could play with. 2. He fell asleep with full determination that he would go and see for himself. 3. He is a man one can trust. 4. We didn’t know the way to the station, and there wasn’t anyone who we could ask. 5. He was the first person who came to the bar and the last who left it. 6. It isn’t a thing you can joke about. It’s a serious matter. 7. He will always find something that makes him laugh at. 8. They decided that it was a nice little town where they could live quietly for a while. 9. He’s not a man who you can easily frighten. 10. There’s nothing that we might discuss now. Everything is settled. 11. He was the first man who guessed what George was driving at. 12. No doubt it was the best time when he could find them all at home. 13. A good housewife will always find something that must be done about the house. 14. The old general wanted nothing but a grandson who he could dandle on his knee.

Ex. 287. Translate these sentences into English using attributive infinitives.

1. Це саме гарна нагода помиритися з ним. 2. Мені нема в кого запитати поради. 3. Ось свіжа троянда, яку ти можеш причепити до волосся. 4. Це був незручний час для перерви. 5. Я не впевнений, чи є тут хто–небудь, з ким можна порозмовляти. 6. Мені дали текст, який я повинен був перекласти без словника. 7. Немає про що сперечатися. Ми практично говоримо про одне і те ж. 8. Він саме та людина, щоб зайняти вакансію. 9. Ось ключ, яким відмикається шухляда.10. Питання, яке буде обговорюватися на наших зборах, дуже важливе, на мій погляд. 11. Я не бачу ганчірки, якою витирають дошку. 12. Це саме та книга, щоб читати перед сном. 13. Ми від’їжджаємо завтра вранці, а в нас ще купа справ.14. Він відповідав першим. 15. Він із гіркотою зрозумів, що нічого неможливо було зробити.

Ex. 288. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to use the infinitive as an adverbial modifier of result. Look at the model.

Model: The storm was so strong that I couldn’t go out. – The storm was too strong (for me) to go out.

The text is so short that it can be translated in an hour. – The text is short enough to be translated in an hour.

1. It was so dark that he could see nothing before him. 2. You are so experienced, you ought to know better. 3. She was so excited that she couldn’t utter a word. 4. He was so angry, he wouldn’t speak to me. 5. His English vocabulary is very poor; he can’t make himself understood. 6. She knows English so well that she can read Somerset Maugham in the original. 7. Mr. Burton was so cruel that he could send a man to death. 8. The story ‘A Friend in Need’ is so tragic, it can’t be merely ironical. 9. The man was so down and out that he could not get a decent job. 10. The man was not very strong and so he was unable to swim the distance. 11. It was very late, nobody could save him.

Ex. 289. Translate the sentences into English using infinitives of result.

1. Він досить розумний, щоб зрозуміти це. 2. Течія була така сильна, що він не міг підпливти до берега. 3. Оповідання було занадто хвилюючим, щоб не дочитати його до кінця. 4. Її вимова була занадто досконалою, щоб бути природною. 5. Він був такий розлючений, що вистачало єдиного слова, щоб звести його з розуму. 6. Я переглянув дві частини, але в результаті знайшов лише п’ять прикладів. 7. Наступного ранку вона прокинулася і виявила, що вона одна в будинку. 8. Після тривалої подорожі він повернувся додому і зрозумів, що гостювати добре, але вдома краще. 9. Він пройшов через усі кімнати і побачив лише кішку на кухні. Квартира була порожня. 10. Вона відчинила двері і побачила, що батько ходить по кімнаті дуже розлючений.11. Час від часу він прокидався і знову засинав. 12. Після тривалої відсутності вона повернулася додому і зрозуміла, що нічого не змінилося: вони не пробачили її. 13. У котрий раз обміркувавши ситуацію, він зрозумів, що виходу немає. 14. Вона відчинила двері і побачила, що всі вже зібралися і чекали на неї.

Ex. 290. Translate the sentences into English and state the functions of the infinitives.

A. 1. З нею приємно розмовляти. 2. Питання було надто складне, щоб його обміркувати за годину. 3. Ти б краще не набридав йому зі своїми питаннями. 4. Це питання було занадто складне, щоб вона могла його вирішити. 5. Він не та людина, від якої можна чекати на допомогу. 6. Було б краще переконати його працювати, аніж змушувати. 7. Діти, мабуть, вже забули про цю прикру подію. 8. Вам слід було попередити мене заздалегідь. 9. Його телефонний номер легко запам’ятати. 10. Ви пам’ятаєте, хто першим увійшов до кімнати? 11. Навряд чи він та людина, яка дасть вам інформацію, що вас цікавить. 12. Ми зробили вигляд, що не помітили його помилки.

В. 1. Перше, що треба було зробити, – це порадитись з лікарем. 2. Я прикинувся, нібито не помітив його і продовжував говорити. 3. На цей факт треба звернути особливу увагу. 4. Чи є в домі хтось, хто може піклуватися про хвору людину, поки не прийде сестра? 5. Вони вирішили більше ніколи про це не згадувати. 6. Тепер нам залишається лише надіслати оголошення до газети. 7. Він був такий вражений, що не міг вимовити жодного слова. 8. Дитина вибігла назустріч матері. 9. Я бачу, що ви шукаєте причину, щоб відмовитись від своєї обіцянки. 10. Ви приїхали, щоб взяти участь у конференції? 11. Питання було занадто складне, щоб його вирішувати поспіхом. 12. Він віддав свій рукопис до редакції на редагування, 13. Ця п’єса залишає бажати кращого, я очікував від неї більшого. 14. Єдине, що він хотів, - це знайти місце, де можна було б переночувати. 15. Знати мову добре – означає оволодіти нею повністю в усіх аспектах.

Ex. 291. Point out the Complex Object with the infinitive. Translate the sentences into your native language.

1. The pills my doctor has given to me make me feel rather odd. 2. I want you to say to yourself that he died a gallant death in the service of his country and we must be proud of him. 3. I had seen my father leave the house that morning. 4. Just as he was falling into unconsciousness he heard the door open and quickly shut. 5. George was sure that fresh air and exercise would make us sleep well. 6. He appears to be asleep. 7. Lady Franklin seemed to expect an answer. 8. Professor Lee was expected to join the expedition in North Africa, but he had fallen ill. 9. He was heard to say that it would rain and ordered the door to the balcony to be shut.

Ex. 292. Paraphrase the following sentences using the Complex Object as in the model.

Model: We knew that they would soon come.

We knew them to come soon.

1. I noticed how he nodded to her. 2. The old lady liked when people greeted her politely. 3. I like to hear that my mother goes upstairs. 4. We expect that he will deliver a speech at the conference. 5. I felt that somebody touched my shoulder. 6. They expected that I should say everything myself. 7. On entering the room we saw that they were completely embarrassed. 8. I felt that she understood the language I spoke. 9. I heard that he loved his little daughter very much. 10. My little daughter wants that I’ll take her to Cuba. 11. His boss warned him that he shouldn’t dress casually. 12. I expect that my favourite newspaper will publish a series of science-fiction stories. 13. She thought that we had influenced their decision. 14. We know that this ancient building was destroyed and rebuilt several times. 15. They expect that these rivers would be soon connected by means of canals.

Ex. 293 Translate the sentences into English using the Complex Object.

1. Я чув, як хтось зайшов до кімнати. 2. Я бачив, як вони вийшли з дому разом. 3. Ми не очікували, що він повернеться так швидко. 4. Ніхто не чув, як дитина відчинила двері. 5. Це примусить тебе обміркувати, як виправити помилку. 6. Ми хотіли, щоб вони розповіли нам що-небудь про Лондон. 7. Я часто чув, як вона запитувала одне й те ж. 8. Цікаво, що змусило його відмовитись? 9. Ми бачили, як діти побігли до садочка. 10. Я хочу, щоб усі переклали цю статтю.

Ex. 294. Paraphrase the following sentences using the Complex Subject as in the model.

Model: It was said that his sister had come on Sunday.

His sister was said to have come on Sunday.

1. It is believed that the expedition will return next Sunday. 2. It is supposed that the students have already submitted their term papers. 3. It was said that the performance had been a success. 4. It is supposed that the coming conference is of great importance for our work. 5. It is likely that the meeting will take place tomorrow. 6. It seems that he possesses a valuable collection of pictures. 7. It seems that he is seriously ill. 8. It is known that the coastline of the British Isles is irregular. 9. It is reported that great construction work is going on in their city. 10. It is likely that my watch is five minutes fast. 11. It is certain that he has done his best to find her address. 12. It was reported that our team had been invited to take part in the sports events.

Ex. 295. Translate the sentences into English using the Complex Subject.

1. Здається, ви розчаровані новим фільмом. Що вам не сподобалось? 2. Очікується, що зима цього року буде лютою. 3. Вони скоріш за все одружаться. 4. Навряд чи він одужає до понеділка. 5. Виявилося, що ми вже знайомі. 6. Вважається, що чоловік та жінка, які живуть багато років разом, схожі. 7. Повідомляють, що експедиція досягла північного полюсу. 8. Кажуть, що чутки про його шалений успіх перебільшені. 9. Він був відомий як гарний лікар. 10. Скоріш за все, вони прийдуть вчасно. 11. Виявилося, що його батьки про це знали.

Ex. 296. Translate into English using the Complex Object or the Complex Subject.

1. Його змусили звернутися до лікаря. 2. Здається, що ви чимось збентежені. 3. Виявляється, що він нічого про це не чув. 4. Я ніколи не бачила, як танцює Джейн Бак. 5. Я спала і не чула, як вони пішли. 6. Батьки завжди хочуть, щоб їх діти виросли чесними людьми. 7. Я вважаю, що це було несправедливо з вашого боку. 8. Хто дозволив вам розпоряджатися моїми речами? 9. Він відчув, що сили повертаються до нього. 10. Ніщо не могло примусити його змінити своє рішення. 11. Я випадково почула останні слова, які ви сказали. 12. Я хочу, щоб усі зустрілися ще. 13. Вона відчула, як хтось торкнув її за плечі. 14. Вона уважно спостерігала за тим, як стрибають інші гімнастки.

Ex. 297. Paraphrase the following sentences using for-phrases with infinitives.

Model: He stepped aside so that I might pass.

He stepped aside for me to pass.

There is nobody here with whom he can play.

There is nobody here for him to play with.

1. She held out the telegram so that I might see it. 2. It’s quite natural that you should think so. 3. The first thing he must do is to ring them up. 4. Let us wait till they settle this matter! 5. This is the problem you should solve all by yourself. 6. I shall bring you the article that you may read. 7. I gave an umbrella to the children lest they should get wet through. 8. I’ve put on weight. I can’t wear this dress any longer. 9. It is unbelievable that a man should go so far beyond his limit. 10. He spoke loudly so that everyone might hear him. 11. There is nothing that I may add. 12. It is very unusual that he should have said such a thing. 13. It’s high time you knew Grammar well. 14. This is a boy you can play with.